There are nearly twenty countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, from Italy, Spain, and France to Turkey, Syria, Libya, and Egypt. In comparison to American diets, almost all traditional Mediterranean diets include a healthy amount of fish, olive oil, whole grains, nuts, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Furthermore, before the globalization of readily-available manufactured foods, most Mediterranean cultures ate foods that were seasonal and locally grown, because that was what was most readily available.
Unlike other diet fads, the Mediterranean diet isn’t about deprivation or obsessive calorie counting. Rather, the Mediterranean diet is about a lifestyle change – a change from fast food to slow food, from lots of meats to lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Some Americans are concerned that a Mediterranean diet lifestyle would take too much time and cost too much money. However, as we’ll see below, it’s possible to eat healthy while sticking to a reasonable budget.
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Known for its multitude of health benefits, fish has deservingly earned “miracle food” status. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, lower cholesterol, or even reduce arthritis pain, adding fish to your diet is key.
Not surprisingly, more and more doctors recommend the Mediterranean Diet for their patients. With a focus on fruits, vegetables, nuts, red wine, and fish (specifically blue fish, sardines, tuna, and anchovies), this eating plan proves to be one of the best heart-healthy diets available.
A Rich in Fish Diet Health Benefits
Don’t despair if you’re a meat and potatoes kind of eater—incorporating more fish into your daily lifestyle is actually easier and more fun than you might think. For example, grilled fish steaks served on toasted buns make a great alternative to traditional hamburgers. Instead of the standard fried chicken dish, try breaded oven-baked catfish. Or simply add some grilled salmon to your favorite salad. The options are endless.
While all fish can provide those wonderful omega-3 fatty acids, doctors do recommend some types of fish above others.
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Valentine’s Day is all about love and is filled with images of hearts, including hearts on greeting cards, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, tiny heart candies with affectionate sayings and heart-shaped boxes holding precious, little gifts.
Although all of this emphasis is placed on hearts and love, we sometimes show our affection for our loved ones with gifts and celebrations that are not so heart healthy, like heavy meals at steakhouses filled with red meat and butter-laden potatoes, high cholesterol sweets and other high calorie treats that play a role in obesity, heart disease and diabetes, rather than showing our loved ones our affection by giving them gifts that show them we would like them to be around for a long time and that encourage healthy eating.
Heart-healthy Valentine’s Day gifts do not have to be boring or unsavory; to the contrary, gifts that might actually make your boyfriend’s or husband’s doctor proud can be quite delicious and fun. If the man – or woman – in your life is currently managing diabetes, heart disease, elevated cholesterol levels, high blood pressure or obesity, there are many healthy Valentine’s Day food gift options that will show just how much you love them and will provide tasty, special treats that will delight their taste buds, while also fitting their dietary restrictions and promoting heart health.
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